When was Cataloochee Valley Road built?
Usa, north-america
21.08 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Craving a Smoky Mountain adventure? Head to North Carolina's Cataloochee Valley, hidden deep within the most rugged parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main access road, originally carved out by hand by early settlers in the 1800s and called Cataloochee Turnpike, is your ticket in!
Starting from Jonathan Creek Road, this 13.1-mile (21.08km) journey – a mix of State Road 1395 (Cove Creek Road), Old Cataloochee Turnpike, and Cataloochee Entrance Road – is not for the faint of heart! Get ready for a steep, narrow, and winding mountain drive with some serious drop-offs and no guardrails.
Take it slow – you'll need to be extra cautious, especially on the narrow sections where you might have to pull over or even back up to let other cars pass. Watch out for horse trailers, too! The route is mostly paved, but be prepared for a roughly 3-mile unpaved section as you climb over Cove Creek Gap.
But the views? Totally worth it. Just a heads-up: this road gets tricky in bad weather and often closes when there's snow around Jonathan Valley. Check the forecast before you go! Despite the challenges, the scenery is unbeatable as you make your way to this secluded valley.
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 21.08 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
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